Polarimetric Analysis of Radar Signature of a Manmade Structure

Identification of manmade structures from radar images has always been a difficult task, especially for single-polarization radar. Fully polarimetric radar, however, can provide detailed information on scattering mechanisms that could enable the target or the structure to be identified. Complexity remains stemming from overlaps of single bounce scattering, double bounce scattering and triple and higher order bounce scattering from various components of manmade structure that makes physical interpretation a challenge. In this paper, we will present an interesting example using polarimetric SAR data of the Great Belt Bridge, Denmark, to illustrate the capability of polarimetric SAR in analyzing radar signatures. Polarimetric target decomposition is used to differentiate the multiple bounce scattering contributions contained in the polarimetric SAR images. Two C-band Danish EMISAR data takes, the first obtained during the bridge´s construction and the second after its completion, are used to extract the scattering characteristics of the bridge deck, bridge cables and supporting structures.